Used Battery Collection and Recycling covers all aspects of spent battery collection and recycling. First of all, the legislative and regulatory updates are addressed and the main institutions and programs worldwide are mentioned. An overview of the existing battery systems, of the chemicals used in them and their hazardous properties is made, followed by a survey of the major industrial recycling processes. The safety and efficiency of such processes are stressed. Particular consideration is given to the released emissions, i.e. to the impact on human health and the environment. Methods for the evaluation of this impact are described. Several chapters deal with specific battery chemistries: lead-acid, nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride, zinc (carbon and alkaline), lithium and lithium-ion. For each type of battery, details are provided on the collection/recycling process from the technical, economic and environmental viewpoint. The chemicals recoverable from each process and remarketable are mentioned. A chapter deals with recovering of the large batteries powering electric vehicles, e.g. lead-acid, nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion. The final chapter is devoted to the important topic of collecting batteries from used electrical and electronic equipment. The uncontrolled disposal of these devices still containing their batteries contributes to environmental pollution.

This document includes a pragmatic framework for designing representative studies and developing uniform sampling guidelines to support estimates of morbidity that are explicitly linked to exposure to land-based contaminants from used lead acid battery recycling (ULAB) activities. A primary goal is to support environmental burden of disease evaluations, which attempt to attribute health outcomes to specific sources of pollution. The guidelines provide recommendations on the most appropriate and cost-effective sampling and analysis methods to ensure the collection of representative population-level data, sample size recommendations for each contaminant and environmental media, biological sampling data, household survey data, and health outcome data. These guidelines focus on small-scale ULABs that are known to generate significant amounts of lead waste through the smelting process, as well as other metals including arsenic and cadmium. A primary concern with lead exposure is the documented association with neurodevelopmental outcomes in children as demonstrated by statistically significant reduced performance on a variety of cognitive tests. These associations are evident even in the youngest children, and toxicological and epidemiologic data indicate these effects have no threshold. Other potential exposures include arsenic and cadmium, and exposure to these contaminants is also associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in children, as well as arsenicosis; bladder, lung, and skin cancers; and renal outcomes. The primary objective of this document is to guide research to assess the relationship between environmental contamination, exposures, and health outcomes related to a subset of contaminants originating from ULAB activities for particularly vulnerable populations (such as children) and the general population within a single household in the vicinity of ULAB sites in low- and middle-income countries. To achieve this objective, biomonitoring and health outcome data are linked to household survey and environmental data (for example, soil, dust, water, and agricultural products) at the individual level from an exposed population compared to individuals from an unexposed (reference) population. Data on exposures and health outcomes in the same individual, across a representative set of individuals, is required to support an understanding of the potential impact of ULAB activities on local populations. The guidelines can also assist in building local capacity toconduct environmental assessments following a consistent methodology to facilitate comparability across ULAB sites in different geographic areas. Sampling strategies and methods are prioritized given information needs, resource availability, and other constraints or considerations. The document includes a number of supporting appendixes that provide additional resources and references on relevant topics. Data obtained following these recommendations can be used to support consistent, comparable, and standardized community risk and health impact assessments at contaminated sites in low- and middle-income countries. These data can also be used to support economic analyses and risk management decision-making for evaluating site cleanup and risk mitigation options in the most cost-effective and efficient manner. Following these recommendations will facilitate comparisons and meta-analyses across studies by standardizing data collection efforts at the community level.

Discharged batteries represent an important part of the heavy metals contained in household refuse, which then finds its way into the environment. This study is an overall evaluation of the disposal of used batteries in Canada, and provides some general guidelines for measures to minimize the associated environmental impacts. Estimates of the amount of mercury entering the Canadian environment are made, and data is provided that will allow federal authorities to decide if it is necessary to adopt measures to reduce mercury emissions from the disposal of used batteries. The study evaluates the feasibility of implementing a program for the collection and recovery of used batteries in Canada, while taking into account profitability. The study also reviewed the experiences of countries in Europe, Japan and the US that have battery disposal programs.

This book addresses recycling technologies for many of the valuable and scarce materials from spent lithium-ion batteries. A successful transition to electric mobility will result in large volumes of these. The book discusses engineering issues in the entire process chain from disassembly over mechanical conditioning to chemical treatment. A framework for environmental and economic evaluation is presented and recommendations for researchers as well as for potential operators are derived.

This book examines the issues relating to material composition, toxicity reduction, and opportunities for reclaiming and recycling the component materials in consumer dry cell batteries.